Donald Trump celebrated the arrival of 2026 with a lavish New Year's Eve party at his Mar-a-Lago estate, where he auctioned off a stunning portrait of Jesus Christ for a staggering $2.75 million. The painting was created by renowned artist Vanessa Horabuena, who Trump praised as one of the world's greatest painters. During the auction, Trump expressed his admiration for Horabuena's talent, noting her ability to create masterpieces in both slow, deliberate strokes and rapid, impressive minutes. He opened the bidding at $100,000, with the proceeds split between St. Jude's Children's Hospital and the local sheriff's department. The auction attracted a star-studded crowd, including former advisor Rudy Giuliani, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Emirati billionaire Hussain Sajwani. As the festivities unfolded, Trump's thoughts turned to a reported CIA-directed strike in Venezuela, contrasting his wish for 'peace on Earth' with the ongoing geopolitical tensions. This New Year's Eve celebration at Mar-a-Lago is a long-standing tradition for Trump, who has hosted notable guests like Martha Stewart, Serena Williams, and Tiger Woods in previous years. Tickets for the exclusive event cost $1,450. The event followed a day of controversial social media posts from Trump, where he made disparaging remarks about political figures and parties, including Colorado Governor Jared Polis and George Clooney, and criticized the Democratic Party. Trump's focus on fraud investigations in Minnesota, California, Illinois, and New York, alleging stolen billions, set the tone for the days ahead, as he vowed to uncover the truth behind these alleged scams.
